Tauranga businesses grappling with increase in homeless

By Ayla Yeoman, for Local Democracy Reporting

Photo: LDR/ Ayla Yeoman

Businesses in Tauranga are suffering and frustrated as issues with "aggressive" rough sleepers undermine revitalisation efforts, they say.

One business has moved to escape the problems, and another faces daily urine clean-ups.

Homelessness-related complaints to the Tauranga City Council have more than doubled since 2021, and people working at the coalface of the issue say homelessness has been increasing.

But they say the solutions are more complex than having enough housing.

'They have taken over'

The Bay of Plenty Times spoke with numerous central city businesses, and many reported experiencing aggressive encounters and disruption.

Penny Henderson, who owns The Pottery Studio, said the business had moved from Devonport Road to Tenth Avenue, in part because of issues caused by the homeless.

"They could become quite aggressive. We've had one get really angry outside and start kicking things. Police came and took him away."

Many would shout and yell at nothing, she said: "You take a wide berth of those ones".

Henderson said they had been "lucky" the neighbouring business was open during the same hours and would help when issues arose.

The Barrio Brothers and Sugo owner Josh Fitzgerald said everyone was trying to make Tauranga's central city a more attractive place, and the homelessness situation was not helping.

"Belongings are scattered all through the public space. They have full campsites."

Photo: NZME/ via LDR

He had no issue with homeless people sitting and begging for money, but "t